General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · advice

Letter to a friend advising on university courses

A friend of yours is thinking about applying for the same course that you did at university. He/She has asked for your advice about studying this subject.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

give details of the course you took at the university
explain why you recommend the university
give some advice about how to apply

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Sam,

It was brilliant to hear that you are considering applying for the Business Management degree at Leeds University. Since I graduated from the same programme last year, I would be more than happy to share my experiences with you.

The course is incredibly comprehensive, covering everything from international marketing to financial accounting. What I particularly enjoyed was the practical nature of the modules; we often worked on live consultancy projects for local start-ups, which provided invaluable hands-on experience that textbooks simply cannot match.

I highly recommend this university, not just for its academic rigour, but for the supportive environment. The faculty members are genuinely passionate about their fields and always available for extra guidance during office hours. Furthermore, the campus facilities, especially the modern library and the dedicated career centre, are exceptional for student development.

Regarding your application, ensure your personal statement focuses heavily on your extra-curricular interests rather than just academic achievements, as they value well-rounded individuals. Also, try to submit your UCAS application as early as possible to avoid the final-day rush. Let me know if you want me to look over your draft!

Best of luck with the process!

Best wishes,

Alex

197 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by fully addressing all bullet points with specific, natural details and maintaining a consistent, warm tone suitable for a friend. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide practical advice for the application process, instead offering only vague encouragement.

Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.
Contractions, phrasal verbs and a warm opening line are expected; a stiff formal tone loses marks here.
Still cover every bullet in its own paragraph; friendly does not mean unstructured.

Useful phrases from the letter

comprehensive: including all or nearly all elements of something
rigour: the quality of being extremely thorough and accurate
invaluable: extremely useful or indispensable to someone
well-rounded: having a personality that is fully developed
hands-on: involving active participation rather than just theory
faculty: the teaching staff of a university department

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS General writing

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Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?

Informal. Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.

How long should an IELTS General Training letter be?

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.